Sanaa:South Korea is maintaining strict enforcement of its export controls on Russia, with the foreign ministry emphasizing that no exports of commercial petroleum products to Russia have been confirmed through customs clearance procedures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea currently prohibits exports of strategic items to Russia and subjects an additional 1,402 non-strategic items, which could potentially be used for military purposes, to case-by-case export authorization. The controlled items are determined through interagency discussions, considering their potential military use, economic impact, and international coordination.

South Korea's outbound shipments to Russia decreased to $4 billion in 2025 from $10 billion in 2021. The country has joined international efforts to maintain peace through these export controls, despite the economic burden on companies and the public.

The Ministry's statement came in response to a report by the Guardian, which claimed that over 176,000 tons of petroleum products, mostly diesel, were loaded at South Korean ports and shipped to Russia's Far East in July and August. This report was challenged by South Korean officials, who noted that official trade statistics showed no exports of diesel, jet fuel, or gasoline to Russia through customs clearance from 2025 through August 2026.

South Korea's government clarified that commercial petroleum products are not subject to its export controls on Russia. Therefore, loading such products at South Korean ports does not automatically constitute a violation of domestic law. However, the government will further investigate the vessels' actual routes and declared destinations to determine if any domestic laws were breached. If violations are confirmed, appropriate legal action will be taken. The government reiterated its commitment to implementing export controls on Russia and enhancing efforts to prevent circumvention of these measures.